Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that partitions a first sequence of pictures into plural representations, encodes each of the plural representations independently of each other with a common time base, provides a first portion of the plural encoded representations based on a first network condition, the first portion having a first bit-rate, and provides a second portion of the plural encoded representations having a second bit-rate different than the first bit-rate, wherein a switch from providing the first portion to providing the second portion is responsive to a second network condition different than the first network condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, receiving at a video stream receive-and-process (VSRP) device auxiliary information corresponding to a video stream, the auxiliary information corresponding to a fixed quantity of framestores to be allocated in a decoded picture buffer; receiving at the VSRP device the video stream comprising a first portion of compressed pictures having a first picture format and a second portion having a second picture format during transmission over a given channel, wherein the first compressed picture of the second portion of compressed pictures is the first compressed picture in the video stream after the last compressed picture of the first portion of compressed pictures; and decoding the first and second portions of the video stream with the fixed quantity of framestores according to the received auxiliary information and outputting the first and second decoded portions of the video stream with a fixed output resolution per the received auxiliary information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that provides plural representations of a single video signal that comprises a successive sequence of pictures, one or more of the plural representations including a respective sequence of latticed pictures, each latticed picture in the one or more plural representations originating from a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, the order of successive latticed pictures in the one or more of the plural representations of the video signal corresponding to the order of successive pictures in the video signal; processes the plural representations based on a predetermined encoding strategy, the predetermined encoding strategy targeting an appropriate respective amount of bits to each of a plurality of the processed latticed pictures, each of the plurality of the processed latticed pictures having a respective picture importance; and provides the plurality of processed latticed pictures in plural successive, non-overlapping, ordered segments in a single video stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a single video signal, wherein each includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures, wherein each latticed picture in each of the plural representations originates from a corresponding respective picture of the video signal; processing the plural representations; separating the processed plural representations into plural segments, each segment consisting of a respective sequence of processed latticed pictures from one of the processed plural representations; arranging the plural segments in successive segments distributions intervals (SDIs) according to a first temporal order and a second temporal order, the successive SDIs to be provided in a video stream; and promoting one or more of the processed latticed pictures among one or more of the plural segments, the promotion corresponding to an increase in picture importance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a video signal, the video signal comprising plural sequenced pictures corresponding to at least a portion of a video program, wherein two or more of the plural representations of the video signal (PROTVS) includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures and one or more of the other PROTVS includes a respective sequence of non-latticed pictures; and providing in plural successive non-overlapping segments distribution interval (SDIs) compressed versions of the PROTVS in a single video stream, wherein each SDI consists of plural non-overlapping, consecutive segments, each of the plural non-overlapping consecutive segments originating from a respective one of the collective PROTVS.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a single video stream, wherein the video stream includes plural processed representations of a single video signal, wherein each of the plural processed representations of the video signal (PPROTVS) includes a respective sequence of compressed latticed pictures, wherein each compressed latticed picture of each of the PPROTVS represents a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, wherein each respective picture of the video signal is represented by at most one compressed latticed picture from each of the PPROTVS, wherein corresponding segments of the PPROTVS are ordered and time shifted relative to each other to facilitate error concealment, the time-shift imposed by interspersing of non-corresponding segments between each of the corresponding segments; and providing error concealment on the received video stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a single video stream, wherein the video stream includes plural processed representations of a video signal, wherein each of the plural processed representations of the video signal (PPROTVS) includes a respective sequence of processed latticed pictures, wherein each processed latticed picture of each of the PPROTVS represents a corresponding respective picture of the video signal, wherein each respective picture of the video signal is represented by at most one processed latticed picture in each of the PPROTVS, wherein plural consecutive non-overlapping segments of one of the PPROTVS are received in a single video stream, each separated by one or more consecutive, non-overlapping segments of the other PPROTVS received in the single video stream; and outputting the plural segments in decompressed format in output picture order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that provides information corresponding to information that assists a receiver provide trick mode operations, such information provided with a corresponding picture, and such information provided in the transport packet containing the start of the corresponding picture, and such information including a tier number corresponding to the picture that conveys picture interdependencies.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method that provides tier information corresponding to a picture, the tier information provided in an adaptation field of a transport packet, the transport packet comprising a first byte of a header of a packetized elementary stream (PES) containing the picture; and provides the first transport packet.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a video stream, the video stream comprising a sequence of plural compressed pictures corresponding to a video program, the plural compressed pictures having plural sets of compressed pictures, each of the plural sets adhering to one or more picture interdependencies, properties, or a combination of the picture interdependencies and properties, and provide auxiliary information in the video stream, the auxiliary information comprising plural data fields, the plural data fields comprising a first data field corresponding to one of multiple possible coding scheme, the coding scheme comprising a set of tiers that uniquely define the one coding scheme, the plural data fields further comprising a second data field different from the first data field, the second data field comprising an indication of whether the one or more picture interdependencies, properties, or a combination of both corresponding to the set of tiers is valid for use in decoding.

Abstract: Systems and methods that receive a video stream comprising a sequence of plural compressed pictures, wherein the plural compressed pictures comprises a plurality of sets of compressed pictures, wherein each set in the plurality of sets has a respective picture interdependency characteristic, wherein the compressed pictures in the first set depend for decoding only on pictures from the first set.

Abstract: Systems and methods that receive a video stream comprising a sequence of compressed pictures, the compressed pictures comprising a plurality of levels of picture importance including a first picture level and a second picture level, track the compressed pictures to ascertain which of the compressed pictures correspond to the first level, and responsive to ascertaining which of the compressed pictures correspond to the first level, tracking the compressed pictures to ascertain which of the compressed pictures correspond to the second level.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a video stream, and providing information identifying compressed pictures in the video stream corresponding to respective picture interdependency tiers.